A Message from UTSA Interim Vice President of Student Affairs- Sam Gonzales

As the signs across campus proclaim: UTSA – We’re Glad You’re Here!

The weeks of family preparation may still be fresh in everyone’s memory, but there’s been a lot of action on campus these last few weeks. The Class of 2016 and returning students, living on-campus or commuting, have completed moving in, many with the help of their families. Admissions staff held the largest ever Welcome Dinner for students in residence halls. We completed the Roadrunner Days of welcome with daily activities including a late night at Campus Recreation, a President’s Picnic, evening Bar-B-Q, and an evening with a noted comedian.

In addition to finding their way to classes spread throughout campus, students have had opportunities to attend student organization Involvement Fairs for opportunities to connect with over 280 organizations. Students are also busy enjoying the new athletic season. This year UTSA joins the Western Athletic Conference and we will celebrate Rowdy Rally on each Friday before home football games. Studies indicate a strong correlation of student academic success and retention to graduation for students who make these connections through class or extracurricular activities. Families can encourage student involvement and become involved as well through taking part in Family Association activities, including the upcoming Family Weekend, November 9-10, 2012, by following this newsletter, or by following on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UTSA.Family).

September is a month of transition not only for students but their families as well. Living away from home and managing time, finances, and conflicting needs for independence yet also wanting to be connected to their families are common concerns. Families can support students by staying in communication. Students will appreciate the security that your care and interest bring them, but be sure to kindly negotiate boundaries that are acceptable to both student and family member. Sometimes siblings or other family members can help by staying in touch with students through calls and social media in ways that can bring everyone comfort.

We are looking forward to meeting all families. We encourage you to visit, to attend a Rowdy Rally and home football game, or any other activity. We hope you will connect with UTSA as part of our family.

The Football Season has officially began. The Roadrunners are 2-0 with victories against South Alabama and Texas A&M-Commerce. In their first home game against Texas A&M Commerce, UTSA took home the win in front of 30,416 fans at the Alamodome.

The UTSA Football Game Day website is now live with everything you need to know about the exciting second season of UTSA football. For game days at the Alamodome, learn about tickets, game schedule, special activities, parking and transportation, tailgating, merchandise and traditions.

On game days, tailgating will begin at 8 a.m. at the Alamodome. New this year, many pre-game activities will be consolidated at Roadrunner Station (Historic Sunset Station). The Spirit Walk begins at 10:30 a.m. as the team and marching band head for the Alamodome starting at Roadrunner Station with kickoff at 1 p.m. Don’t have tickets yet? Purchase your season or single-game tickets today!

Note that the game schedule is subject to change so consult the website for up to date game times.

VIA Park and Ride Sites

The UTSA Football Game Day website has details about VIA Park and Ride sites including the UTSA Main Campus, Cross Roads Mall (Wonderland Mall), and Madla Transit Center.

At the Main Campus, parking is also available on Saturdays in any unmarked space in Lot 5 (BK1 and BK2) these are adjacent to the Convocation Center and the Rec Center.

VIA's regular Yellow Streetcar route provides service between the Downtown UTSA Campus and the Alamodome from a streetcar stop near Frio and Cesar Chavez. This stop is located closest to Lot D-3.

In addition the VIA's UTSA Campus Downtown Alamodome Express provides service from a stop on Buena Vista at Lot D-1. Look for VIA's temporary bus stop signage and VIA personnel.

Both services run approximately every ten minutes. (Note: VIA runs regular buses instead of streetcars on the Yellow Streetcar route). Parking will be available on Saturdays in any unmarked spaces at the Downtown Campus in Lots D-1, D-2, D-3 and D-4 under IH 35.

FOX Sports Southwest to Televise Weekly UTSA Football Show

FOX Sports (FS) Southwest announced Friday, August 17th that it will televise a weekly 30-minute magazine show this fall titled "UTSA Football Insider" that once again will feature the school's football program.

The series will premiere with a special edition at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 27. The show will then begin its regular time slot the following week at 4:30 p.m. each Thursday throughout the season.
Article Courtesy: UTSA Athletics For full article, click here.

Come join us in San Antonio on November 9-10 for UTSA’s Family Weekend! Spend time with your student, meet faculty and staff, and connect with other Roadrunner families throughout the weekend. Show your UTSA spirit on Friday at the Main Campus for an array of events including Rowdy Rally, open houses and special give-aways. On Saturday, make sure to wear your orange and blue to the Alamodome when the Roadrunners take on the McNeese State Cowboys from Louisiana. Check out the Family Association website www.utsa.edu/family for more information about a special football game package for this game and more!

Five UTSA students are among the fall 2012 scholarship awardees of the nationally competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program. These students will study in Italy, Japan, China, UK and Argentina.

Roadrunner Days took place August 24-31. First-year Roadrunners and returning students participated in a week full of events including Fall Convocation on Monday, August 27. College Orientations, Picnics, BBQs, Dinners, Fairs, Sporting Events, and Entertainment were just some of the highlights of the 2012 Roadrunner Days schedule. All events were a fun way to meet new and returning students, find out about student organizations on campus, and just have a good time!

The UTSA Career Center will be hosting a Career Fair for ALL Majors on Thursday, Sept. 20th, 2012. The event will be located in the University Center III Ballroom’s I & II at 1:30-4:30pm. Even if students may not be looking for a full-time position, Career Fairs are an excellent way to gather information about companies, career paths, skills that an employer is looking for and much more. Students should dress professionally and bring multiple copies of their resumes. Below is a link to the event where you can find a list of employers and information about registering. For other UTSA Career Center events, information, and services take a look at their website UTSA CAREER CENTER.

Assistant Professor Andrew Highsmith in The University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Public Administration has been named a 2012-2013 Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow by the National Academy of Education. The honor includes a $55,000 award to support Highsmith while he completes his book, "Demolition Means Progress: Flint, Michigan, and the Fate of the American Metropolis."

To learn more about Highsmith’s accomplishment, the full article at UTSA Today.

The New Bauerle Road Garage will be the third multi-level parking garage on the UTSA Main Campus. Construction began in March 2011 and was completed this August 2012. The Bauerle Road Garage is built on a portion of the Bauerle Road Lot 2 (BR2), formerly Lot 4, north of the Main Building. The week of Aug. 20, three UTSA offices relocated to new facilities in the Bauerle Road Garage on the Main Campus. The moves involved the Welcome Center (formerly Visitor Center), Office of Alumni Programs and Office of University Communications.

Courtesy: Tim Brownlee, Associate Director of Internal Communications

To learn more about these offices and the Bauerle Road Garage, Click Here.

Among sixty-five faculty members from institutions across the University of Texas System, seven UTSA professors were honored Wednesday, Aug. 22 by the UT System Board of Regents as recipients of the 2012 Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award.

This summer over 1,600 new family members joined the UTSA Family Association! Please know that we are here to facilitate communication between the University and family members of our students through this communication we hope to increase student success, facilitate positive University relations, and promote a suitable role for family members within the university community.

Through programs, such as Family Weekend, you will have the opportunity meet UTSA faculty and staff, spend time with your students, and also network with other Roadrunner families. Building connections and friendships with Family Association members will help you stay informed and sane as you share the similar experience of having a student in college.

Family Association Scholarship

The Family Association will once again offer four, $500 scholarships to the students of Family Association members for Fall 2012. Orientation and Family Programs has received several applications and the scholarship review committee is in the process of making its final selection. The deadline to submit the application was Tuesday, August 28, 2012. All scholarship recipients will be notified later this month regarding their selection status. Special thanks to all the applicants, the scholarship pool was very competitive.

Family Association iPad Winner

In an effort to increase Association membership during new student orientation, students that signed up their family members were entered into a drawing for an iPad. This was an incentive program supported by the Parent Council. Congratulations to Brayden Boren from La Vernia, Texas winner of the Family Association iPad drawing. Brayden is a freshman student and a part of the Coordinated Admission Program with UT Austin.

Family Association Volunteers Needed for UTSA Football vs. Rice Tailgate Party

The mission of the UTSA Student Leadership Center is to facilitate and provide intentional and purposeful leadership encounters through education, engagement and experience. In this upcoming fall 2012 semester the will offer UTSA students the opportunity to apply to attend the Texas Conference for Women hosted by the Texas First Lady, Anita Perry in Austin, Texas, as well as, the ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute hosted in San Antonio, Texas. The Student Leadership Center will also partner with the College of Engineering to host the Women in Engineering Storytelling Series Luncheon. Students who have participated in these events in the past have shared:

"I heard the wake-up call that it is never too late to become more involved, to network and to accomplish goals of helping the community through leadership." -Rita Adeyinka, 2011 Texas Conference for Women participant.

“I have gained strong interpersonal skills and I am more confident when communicating to a group. This is greatly due to my opportunity to serve as a Storytelling Series facilitator and in other SLC programs.” – Justina Williams, 2011 Storytelling Series participant.

Applications and additional information about the center is available through the SLC website at www.utsa.edu/slc.

Are you ready for a night at the casino? Well you don't have to drive far nor do you have to be 21 thanks to University Center Programming Council’s Casino Night from 8-11pm in the University Center Ballroom! The event features casino games such as blackjack, poker, Vegas slots and roulette. UCPC provides students with chips needed to play each game. Casino Night is free for all students!